\3.<A. 


131 


MEDICAL  MISSIONARY  WORK 
IN  THE  DELTA 

Caroline  C.  Lawrence,  M.  D. 


Beginning  of  the  Work  in  Tanta 

When  one  thinks  what  “The  Delta”  means  in 
size  and  population,  and  how  few  of  its  six 
millions  of  inhabitants  have  yet  been  reached,  a 
fitter  title  would  be  “The  Possibilities,”  or  more 
enthusiastically,  “The  Future  of  Medical  Work 
in  the  Delta.”  Some  years  ago  a beginning  was 
made  in  Tanta.  This  city  is  the  geographical 
center — the  hub  of  the  Delta.  Eeligiously  it  is 
the  mecca  of  Egypt,  and  to  its  famous  shrine 
come  the  faithful  when  en  route  for  their  Arabian 
jiilgrimage.  It’s  a great  mosque  which  has  risen 
over  the  bones  of  the  canonized  Ahmed.  Said 
El  Bedani  is  one  of  the  emissaries  of  Islam.  So 
as  a multiplier  of  opportunities  and  a removal 
of  prejudices  the  medical  work  was  undertaken — 
an  adjunct  to  the  formal  evangelizing  agencies. 

Clinics  in  Tanta 

The  practice  here  is  many-sided — among  all 
classes  and  many  nationalities.  Indeed,  Egypt 
is  so  cosmopolitan  that  one  longs  to  be  a polyglot. 
There  are  daily  clinics,  to  which  come  the  poor 
of  the  city  and  the  peasants  from  the  near  vil- 
lages. In  the  gathering  time  an  earnest,  tactful 
Bible  woman  reads  and  explains  the  Scriptures. 
The  patients  are  largely  Moslem,  and  here,  for 
the  first  time,  they  learn  of  our  Saviour  and  His 
salvation. 


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Home  Visiting 

There  is  also  home  visiting  among  the  poor. 
Often  the  native  mid-wives  send  for  help  in  a 
dilfieult  ease,  and  many  an  anxious  hour  has  been 
spent  in  some  little,  dark,  dirty  room  fighting  for 
a life.  There  are  calls,  too,  in  the  homes  of  the 
better  class,  and  an  increasing  number  to  the 
harems  of  the  rich.  We  have  also  what  might 
be  called  a private  practice  among  the  resident 
English  and  European.  Despite  the  oriental  set- 
ting it  is  much  what  such  a practice  would  be  at 
home.  Financially  the  work  is  a great  help,  and 
haply  it  is  not  without  its  missionary  and  philan- 
thropic value.  Often  calls  come  from  neighbor- 
ing towns  and  villages  to  foreign  and  native 
patients.  These  are  readily  accessible  because 
of  Tanta’s  numerous  radiating  railways. 

The  Egyptian  Peasants 

The  most  ideally  missionary  work  is  this  among 
the  peasants  in  the  daily  clinics.  These  are  the 
men,  and  women,  too,  “with  the  hoe” — the  sun- 
browned  children  of  Father  Nile,  who  live  on  his 
bounty,  and,  in  turn,  by  their  labor  make  his 
country  the  marvel  of  the  nations.  They  have 
as  yet  been  little  influenced  by  the  Westernism 
which  is  making  the  new  Egypt  of  the  cities  and 
towns.  The  church  reaches  them  in  part  by  the 
colporteurs,  but  largely  through  the  medical 
work.  With  simple  habits  and  food,  an  out-of- 
door  life,  and  a purifying  all-flooding  sunshine 
from  year’s  end  to  year’s  end,  it  would  seem 
that  the  Egyptian  peasant  had  little  need  of 
medical  attention.  But  a race-long  instinct  gath- 


4 


ers  them  into  villages  of  dark,  closely-huddled 
mud  houses  and  stagnant,  green  bordering  pools. 
Parents,  children,  camels,  donkeys,  buffalos, 
sheep  and  poultry  make  a “happy”  family  under 
one  low  roof.  Germs,  especially  of  eye  diseases, 
lu.xuriate.  Long  hours  of  work  in  summer  heat 
and  in  the  dampness  of  the  irrigated  fields  causes 
illness  and  disease. 

Description  of  a Typical  Clinic 
So  it  is  that,  of  a forenoon,  there  will  be  gath- 
ered into  a typical  clinic  a goodly  number  of 
men,  women  and  children.  As  we  approach  the 
building  a group  will  be  seen  in  a shady  spot 
socially  eating,  while  a solemn  donkey  or  two 
browse  on  stray  bits  of  provender.  Would  that 
I could  give  you  a pen  picture  of  types  and  indi- 
viduals. The  men  in  their  brown  cloaks  of  home- 
spun  goats’  wool,  the  women  in  ragged  print 
gowns  or  coarse  indigo-dyed  slips  and  head  cover- 
ings, the  children  in  abbreviated  models  of  their 
elders’  costumes,  the  babies  in  odds  and  ends. 
As  the  doctor  enters  the  waiting-room  there  is  a 
scrambling  to  their  feet  of  the  groups  of  women 
sitting  on  the  floor  and  of  their  lords  of  creation 
occupying  the  benches;  and  a chorus  of  greetings 
in  rich  colloquial  Arabic:  “May  your  day  be 
happy!”  “May  your  morning  be  like  cream!” 
or — the  equivalent  of  what’s  “The  top  of  the 
morning  to  yez!  ” Stepping  over  crawling  babies 
and  avoiding  dirty  toddlers,  who  are  yet  in  the 
wobbly  stage,  the  doctor  opens  the  office  door. 
There  is  a rush  to  be  first  inside  and  eloquent  ap- 
peals for  immediate  attention:  “My  home  is  far 
away,”  “I  have  been  here  since  dawn,”  etc. 


But  a deaf  ear  is  turned,  and  they  are  told  that 
no  one  will  be  treated  until  after  the  Bible  les- 
son and  prayer.  So  they  good-naturedly  settle 
down  again  and  gossip  together  until  the  evan- 
gelist appears.  Gathering  the  people  about  him 
he  reads  the  Bible  stories  and  parables,  and  trans- 
poses them  into  homely,  every-day  Arabic.  One 
day  a graphic  description  is  given  of  the  won- 
derful clinics  held  by  the  Great  Physician  with 
a leading  up  to  the  need  of  healing  sin-sick  souls. 
Again  it  is  the  parables.  Thus  patiently  the 
story  which  we  have  to  tell  them  is  unfolded. 
The  audience  shows  its  appreciation  by  responses 
of  approval  and  surprise.  Indeed  it  has  the 
sound  of  a good  old  Methodist  meeting.  With 
the  audience  there  is  no  question  of  creed  or  in- 
terpretation. It  is  the  painstaking,  oft-repeated 
instillation  of  the  essential  doctrines — the  reality 
of  sinfulness,  the  need  of  repentance,  salvation 
through  Christ,  etc.  Maybe  an  old,  half-blind 
Sheik,  who  sits  nodding  over  his  staff,  on  hear- 
ing the  name  of  Christ,  will  wake  up  and  chal- 
lenge the  statement  of  his  being  the  Son  of  God. 
This  is  the  orthodox  Moslem’s  objection.  The 
Koran  is  appealed  to,  and  the  noisy  arguer  made 
to  acknowledge  that  the  Koran  says  that  Christ 
is  from  the  Spirit  of  God.  He  is  silenced,  but, 
alas,  not  convinced.  But  no  amount  of  arguing 
or  polemic  encounter  will  suffice  to  bring  one  of 
their  needy  souls  to  a saving  knowledge  of  the 
Saviour.  It  comes  only  through  the  quiet  work- 
ing of  the  Spirit  and  the  secret  germinating  of 
seed  dropped  into  hearts  prepared  by  such  hum- 
ble meetings,  or  by  the  colporteur,  as,  traveling 


6 


from  village  to  village,  he  has  wayside  and  home 
talks,  or  by  those  silent  missionaries,  the  Bible 
and  religious  books. 

Peasant  Children 

The  patients  are  admitted  to  the  treatment 
room  by  fours  and  fives.  Often  it  is  a child 
which  is  brought.  These  little  folks,  when  one 
is  able  to  overlook  the  dirt  and  flies  and  other 
evidences  of  a neglected  toilet,  are  interesting 
specimens.  They  learn  the  world  from  a perch 
on  their  mother’s  shoulder.  Here  they  sit,  their 
eyes  and  head  unprotected  from  the  sun,  while 
the  mother  goes  about  her  work  selling  in  the 
market,  driving  a donkey,  picking  cotton,  etc. 
The  little  one  naps  and  wakes  regardless  of  the 
jolting,  the  heat  and  the  flies.  They  are  given 
the  choice  of  the  family  menu.  Babies  cut  their 
teeth  on  green  cucumbers,  so  it  is  logical  that 
they  should  have  a double  portion  of  the  ills  of 
childhood.  Thousands  of  them  never  live  out 
their  first  year. 

The  doctor  and  the  Bible  woman  have  little 
personal  talks  in  the  intervals  of  treatment. 
Through  patient  listening  to  the  tale  of  physical 
ills  the  life  stories  are  drawn  out — the  comedy 
and  the  tragedy.  With  the  medicine  is  given 
advice,  sympathy,  a word  of  interest  in  their 
little  world,  or  timely  appeal  for  a thought  of 
the  Christian’s  Saviour.  The  men  are  generally 
able  to  repeat  the  substance  of  the  evangelist’s 
talk  with  such  embellishments  as  their  knowledge 
of  the  Koran  may  afford.  The  women  at  first, 
when  asked  what  they  have  heard,  will  say:  “Do 
I know,  O Sitt?  I am  but  a donkey.  I have  no 


7 


mind.”  But  in  time  the  mind  is  rediscovered. 
The  evidence  of  a bettering  influence  is  seen. 
The  children  are  brought  with  washed  faces  and 
clean  dresses;  they  are  more  gentle  to  each  other; 
less  eager  to  be  served  first;  more  affection- 
ate and  grateful  to  the  doctor.  One  forlorn 
body,  who,  with  her  brown,  bright-eyed  baby 
eagerly  greeted  us  each  morning,  calling  down 
all  the  blessings  of  the  prophet  on  our  heads, 
impulsively  exclaimed,  “I  am  happier  since  com- 
ing to  you  and  do  not  cry  so  much.”  “Do  you 
pray?”  I asked.  “No;  I can’t.”  “Why?” 
‘ ‘ My  husband  was  angry  and  pushed  me  from 
the  roof.  My  knee  was  hurt  and  I cannot  bend 
it.”  This  but  illustrates  the  difficulty  and  the 
primary  character  of  our  teaching  among  these 
daughters  who  “sit  in  the  darkness”  of  Islam. 
After  the  patients  have  gotten  their  treatment 
they  go  away  home — passing  along  the  dykes, 
through  the  far  stretching  green  fields  in  the  set- 
ting sunlight  to  their  villages.  What  do  they 
carry  with  them?  This  land  with  its  marvelous- 
ly fertile  fields  and  its  millions  of  lowly  tillers 
must  some  day  be  Immanuel’s  land.  God  grant 
that  medical  missions  may  at  least  have  an  hum- 
ble part  in  this  glorious  transformation. 

Perhaps  in  medicine  more  than  in  any  other 
form  of  mission  work,  is  the  opportunity  richer 
in  which  to  show  Christ  to  those  who  know  Him 
not.  Medicine  should  be  a most  gracious,  win- 
ning and  valuable  hand-maiden  in  missionary 
work.  It  wants  but  the  inspiration  of  the  great 
Master  Physician  who  by  His  example  has  for 
all  time  glorified  and  made  .divine  the  healing  art. 


A DAY’S  EXPERIENCE  WITH  A DOCTOR 
IN  EGYPT 
Miss  E.  Dorcas  Teas 

One  evening  Dr.  Henry  received  a telegram 
from  a village  not  far  from  Assiut  to  visit  a man 
who  for  weeks  had  been  suffering  with  an  abeess 
of  the  liver.  He  had  previously  been  advised 
to  have  an  operation  performed,  but  had  refused 
it.  However,  when  his  friends  despaired  of  his 
recovery,  and  he  himself  was  alarmed  over  his 
condition,  the  call  came  to  the  doctor:  “Come 
at  once  and  operate.” 

Early  the  next  morning,  after  the  important 
cases  in  the  hospital  were  cared  for,  instruments, 
basins,  towels,  dressings,  chloroform,  etc.,  were 
carefully  packed  and  the  two  doctors  and  myself, 
as  nurse,  started  off  on  our  errand  of  mercy. 

An  hour’s  ride  by  rail  brought  us  to  the  sta- 
tion, where  we  had  to  look  around  for  some  kind 
of  beasts  to  carry  us  and  our  precious  baggage 
to  the  sick  man’s  home.  Presently  two  donkeys 
came  in  sight,  neither  having  saddle  or  bridle. 
Having  been  advised  before  leaving  Assiut  to 
prepare  for  such  an  emergency,  I had  taken  my 
side  saddle  with  me,  and  the  donkey  boy,  after 
much  persuasion,  provided  me  with  a bridle. 

Dr.  Henry  mounted  the  second  donkey,  which 
had  only  a cloth  thrown  over  it  for  a saddle, 
with  a stick  in  his  hand  to  guide  the  little  animal 
as  he  traveled  along.  The  horse  brought  for  Dr. 
McLaughlin  had  on  it  a grotesque-like  saddle, 
with  stirrups  to  it  like  tin  shoes.  Considering 
the  times  and  circumstances,  we  rode  off  in  real 


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Eg3’ptian  style,  with  a native  in  charge  of  our 
baggage,  who  “vowed”  he  would  take  special 
care  of  it.  It  was  not  long,  however,  until  hear- 
ing a “thud”  back  of  us  we  looked  around  and 
saw  the  man,  baggage,  donkey  and  all  rolling 
down  the  slope  from  the  railroad  track.  We  had 
a feeling  of  uneasiness  lest  bottles  were  broken 
and  instruments  injured,  but  after  helping  the 
man  once  more  to  mount  bis  donkey,  with  the 
assurance  that  all  our  things  were  safe,  we  re- 
sumed our  journey  in  a manner  much  like  Abra- 
ham must  have  done  in  his  day;  although  boys 
running  alongside  of  travelers  to  urge  the  don- 
kej's  along  may  be  of  a more  recent  usage.  An 
hour  and  a quarter’s  ride  brought  us  to  the  so- 
called  home  of  the  patient.  To  describe  the 
poor  emaciated  man  we  need  only  to  say  that  he 
looked  like  a mummy,  thousands  of  years  old. 
Now  and  then  he  breathed  and  would  whisper  a 
word  or  two,  beseeching  the  doctors  to  help  him. 
With  his  thin  face  covered  with  dirt,  he  put  on 
such  a look  of  pleading  that  one  could  not  resist 
trying  to  help  relieve  his  suffering.  However, 
he  was  too  weak  to  endure  an  operation. 

The  surroundings  of  this  home  were  all  in 
keeping  with  the  appearance  of  the  man.  It  was 
large,  with  numerous  courts,  or  enclosures  of 
brick  walls,  some  being  roofed  over  and  others 
open  to  the  clear  blue  sky,  which,  in  its  purity, 
was  striking  in  its  contrast  to  the  place  and 
people  who  occupied  the  same  apartments  with 
the  cattle,  sheep,  goats  and  donkeys. 

All  occupants  seemed  alike  indifferent  to  the 
luxury'  of  the  bath,  which  cannot  be  said  of  all 


10 


Egyptians.  While  tliere  are  those  who  give  great 
attention  to  cleanliness,  many  fear  water  where 
there  is  sickness,  and  the  poor  patient  is  left  day 
after  day,  until  as  in  the  ease  mentioned,  layer 
after  layer  of  dirt  had  accumulated,  making  him 
appear  as  if  wrapped  in  mummy  cloth  many  years 
old.  As  it  was  found  to  be  too  late  to  give  re- 
lief through  an  operation  for  which  we  had  come 
prepared,  we  were  invited  cordially  to  sit  down 
on  the  pretty  rugs  that  were  spread  for  us  on 
the  ground.  There  being  no  drug  store  nearer 
than  three  hours  ride  from  the  house.  Dr.  Henry 
took  from  his  ever-ready  saddle-bag  of  medicine 
some  powders,  and  while  preparing  them  he 
talked  with  the  patient  about  the  condition  of 
his  soul.  It  was  said  that  he  was  rich  in  this 
world’s  goods,  but,  oh,  how  poor  he  was  in  the 
“treasures  laid  up  above!’’ 

He  was  afraid  to  appear  before  his  God,  al- 
though he  called  himself  a Christian.  But  this 
name  means  very  little  to  many  thousands  in  the 
Coptic  church  of  Egypt.  They  are  quite  as  ig- 
norant as  the  Mohammedans  who  are  sitting  in 
gross  darkness  and  know  not  the  true  Light.  The 
sick  man  asked  to  be  prayed  for,  and  it  was 
pitiful  to  see  his  long,  thin,  grimy  fingers  clutch- 
ing at  the  hands  of  those  near  him  as  he  eagerly 
asked  if  there  was  not  some  chance  j^et  to  have 
the  operation. 

In  the  meantime  a number  of  blind,  half-blind, 
lame  and  sick  persons,  who  had  learned  of  the 
doctor’s  presence,  crowded  in  to  claim  his  atten- 
tion, until  it  was  difficult  for  him  to  administer 
to  anyone. 


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True  hospitality  is  a characteristic  of  the 
Egyptians,  and  it  was  not  lacking  on  this  occa- 
sion. A bountiful  repast  was  spread  in  the  best 
manner,  and  we  were  cordially  invited  to  sit 
down  and  partake.  Even  while  eating  the  sick 
ones  gathered  around  the  doctor,  notwithstanding 
the  family  tried  to  keep  them  away,  and  pre- 
scriptions were  written  and  given  out  as  rapidly 
as  possible.  Some  were  able  to  pay  for  these, 
but  to  the  poor  they  were  given  free  of  charge. 
During  the  time  the  doctor  lost  no  opportunity 
to  present  the  need  of  the  sin-sick  souls. 

At  last  the  hour  approached  for  our  return 
to  the  station  to  take  the  train  for  Assiut.  There 
was  great  difficulty  in  extricating  ourselves  from 
the  crowd,  and  as  we  mounted  our  animals  we 
were  obliged  to  be  almost  rude  in  order  to  get 
started.  Many,  however,  followed  us  out  of  the 
little  town  and  through  the  fields,  making  us 
anxious  lest  the  train  would  leave  us.  As  “all 
things  come  to  an  end,"  so  did  our  journey,  and 
we  found  ourselves  back  home,  hot  and  weary. 
Yet  we  rejoiced  that  we  had  been  able  during 
the  long  day  to  speak  to  many  about  their  soul’s 
salvation.  After  a hurried  visit  to  the  hospital, 
as  the  evening  shades  gathered  around  us,  we 
thought  of  the  Master  who  walked  through 
Galilee  and  Samaria  teaching  and  preaching  and 
healing  the  people,  with  the  prayer  in  our  hearts 
that  He  would  teach  those  with  whom  we  had 
met — -who  were  like  “sheep  without  a shepherd.’’ 


INTERURBAN  PRESS  PlTTSbURGH.  PA. 


